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Expert Tips on Car Safety for Families
Expert Tips on Car Safety for Families
By Josh Dilts, Chicco Senior Product Manager – Car Safety
As September marks Baby Safety Month, it’s an important reminder for parents and caregivers to prioritize child safety on the road. Throughout the month, people nationwide have been raising awareness and holding activities around safe travel practices, from car seat safety to essential precautions for trips with little ones.
This year, Chicco collaborated with AAA, to launch the Family Road Trip Safety Hub. The hub is designed to provide parents with practical tips and expert guidance for keeping children safe in the car, no matter the distance.
As a Senior Product Manager for Car Safety with Chicco, my mission is to empower parents with knowledge and confidence by helping them stay up to date on evolving travel regulations, car seat safety recommendations, and best practices for safe travel. Here are Chicco and AAA’s top road safety tips to help ensure every trip with your kids is a safe one.
- Double-Check Car Seat Fit: Before getting on the road, check your child’s weight and height to confirm their car seat is still the right fit. It’s recommended to keep children rear-facing for as long as possible, to maximize your car seat. We always encourage parents to take their time and delay transition to the next car seat stage, and never skip to booster stage. Always check your car seat’s manual for height and weight guidelines. Chicco offers a car seat guide to help you choose the right option for your child’s current stage.
- Know State-Specific Safety Laws: Planning your route is not just important for directions, but for understanding varying safety laws along the way. While all 50 states require car seat use, each has different regulations for car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for children. Stay informed on the states you’ll be traveling through with a comprehensive look at the car seat guidelines here.
- Ensure Proper Car Seat Installation: Even if your car seat is the right fit, it still needs to be installed securely. Try the ‘inch-test,’ by gripping the seat at the belt path and pull it from side to side and front to back. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, reinstall it to ensure a snug fit. Chicco offers online resources to help with car seat installation – and always check your car seat’s manual. Local car seat checks offered by fire departments and AAA can help too.
For more tips on safe driving, road trip prep and tips for alternative methods of travel, visit the Family Road Trip Safety Hub, and feel confident in your family’s road safety this month and all year long.
About the Writer
Joshua Dilts is a passionate advocate for child passenger safety, serving as the Senior Product Manager for Car Safety at Chicco. A father of three, Josh’s real-life experience provides continued inspiration and motivation for creating solutions that make it easier for families to travel safely with car seats.
*Conducted in June 2025 on behalf of Chicco, Pollfish obtained a sample of 1,000 U.S. parents with children 0-10 living at home.
